New to PH but not TIV ownership

[Burge55s3]

Hi,
Although I've only just joined the pistonH community,I've been reading various forums for over 10 years now! So I thought that I had better introduce myself.My name's Garry & I've owned my Black TVR S3 for nearly 12 years.I have spent 8K on it so far in the past 18 months that has included 2 services(& yes I have been called nuts by a few people for spending so much money on an old banger,but have no intention of ever selling it,so It's worthwhile to me)& am intending on a respray in 2 months.I still enjoy the car no end especially since I had the AVO's regassed & the bushes changed (again).

[greymrj]

You are very welcome Garry, there are a lot of friendly and helpful people on this forum who share your enthusiasm for the 'S'. Good to have another car added to the fleet! Someone will be along to advise you how to add your car to the 'wiki' at the top of the forum page.
I guess that, after 12 years of ownership, you will immediately be an experienced member of this forum and you may well have experiences and advice which would be of help to the newer owners. Please keep an eye on the forum topics and add your pennyworth when you can.
If you are looking for advice on all matters 'S' then there is an absolute wealth of knowledge already recorded under various forum threads. There is an issue with the 'new' search engine being developed for Pistonheads in that it seems not to like the S as a search criteria so for the time being search Google for what you want and click on the latest thread Google throws up, it works well if your search topic is in the title of the thread.
If you cant find it, ask! There are a number of very keen and knowledgeable members who watch this forum pretty regularly and usually someone will be along within an hour or so.
When I first got my S I would have had a real struggle to restore and run it without the freely available advice of forum members, it has been absolutely essential to enjoying my S.

[magpies]

welcome Garry

enjoy the craik

feel free to comment whether informative or taking the P

we are a friendly bunch

please add a photo or two

[Burge55s3]

Hi guys,
This is my 1st attempt at a photo upload.I'm sorry but I'm a right numpty with electrical digital computer type gizmo's.
This is my S3 after getting it back from the bodyshop.It was originally Standard Moonraker black & I've had it resprayed Alfa Etna black,the colour REALLY stands out in bright sunlight.

[Burge55s3]

I suppose I'd better upload some before pics too.
Here goes....

[Burge55s3]

[Burge55s3]

[greyhulk]

not seen many S's in black, looks great, was about to ask why the respray until you posted that bonnet picture up, btw red leather interior would set it off a treat

p.s dont suppose you remember the size of the wheel centre cap badges? mine are looking abit perished now

[Burge55s3]

Yes youre right it was in a bit of a state before.I was ALMOST ashamed to drive it.......
But not quite !!!

[Burge55s3]

I'm trying to replace my own wheel centres.The script is illegable now & one of 'em is buckled to boot.I've bought some black plastic ones from Amazon,I've already bought TIV stickers for them & I'll just laquer them once on,I hope that'll work !
I'm also going to get the wheels re diamond cut at the end of Feb.That should finish the car off nicely.
Youre right A red interior WOULD look the dog's.

[drak ula]

i agree gary, the car looks great in black. am interested in getting my wheels done too, so let us know how it goes when you get yours done, how much it costs and how good they look after, am i right in thinkimg that is when the alloy is skimmed on a lathe or something like that to get a new polished type finish. someone had mine painted or powder coated in the past and they look terrible, you can see drips in the finish! (i made the mistake of selling mind and bought it back 3 years later, the buyer/seller had done some awful things to my car while it was away ;-) including painting what was a perfectly decent looking original brg type green to a pearlescent metalic epsom green, much preferred it before. so now considering doing mine satin black with rattle cans!!!!

[greyhulk]

Burge55s3 said:

I'm trying to replace my own wheel centres.The script is illegable now & one of 'em is buckled to boot.I've bought some black plastic ones from Amazon,I've already bought TIV stickers for them & I'll just laquer them once on,I hope that'll work !
I'm also going to get the wheels re diamond cut at the end of Feb.That should finish the car off nicely.
Youre right A red interior WOULD look the dog's.

just a thought but this site here https://www.demongraphics.co.uk/index.php?main_pag... does the 'TVR' domed badge centres which look pretty damn good, in oppose to stickers & lacquering as you mentioned, £20 for 4 plus you can choose whichever colour combinations you require
i have the same oz split rims as yourself but im considering going down the 'metal look finish' powder coating route as they have aready started pitting

[phillpot]

greyhulk said:

i have the same oz split rims as yourself

.... those are Oz eight spokes in the pictures?


Been a lot of suggestions/discussions on centre caps in the past, try a little searching


One to get you started

[greyhulk]

phillpot said:

.... those are Oz eight spokes in the pictures

Sorry my brain must be still frazzled from seeing your gleaming engine bay phillpot *I have the 8spokes

Edited by greyhulk on Saturday 16th January 17:36

[Niiige]

Welcome to the forum.

It's full of the most lovely, helpful and generous chaps. And a few who are delightfully bonkerooney!

Hope to see you at S Club Heaven.

[AutoAndy]

Looking good Garry...now you need a year of driving it to S events to get it dirty again

[Burge55s3]

drak ula said:

i agree gary, the car looks great in black. am interested in getting my wheels done too, so let us know how it goes when you get yours done, how much it costs and how good they look after, am i right in thinkimg that is when the alloy is skimmed on a lathe or something like that to get a new polished type finish. someone had mine painted or powder coated in the past and they look terrible, you can see drips in the finish! (i made the mistake of selling mind and bought it back 3 years later, the buyer/seller had done some awful things to my car while it was away ;-) including painting what was a perfectly decent looking original brg type green to a pearlescent metalic epsom green, much preferred it before. so now considering doing mine satin black with rattle cans!!!!

I have looked into this subject indepth & as far as I'm aware the alloys can only be diamond cut a couple of times, as if too much of the alloy is shaved off It ruins them permanantely.It's also difficult to get the laquer to adhere properly to the metal so they dont last as long as a good powder coating.
I will naturally take photos once the wheels are finished (& in a better setting than outside my place !)

[Burge55s3]

AutoAndy said:

Looking good Garry...now you need a year of driving it to S events to get it dirty again

OH,dont.I took it down to the coast on Friday,the first time it's really been out since I collected it back from the sprayers (31st December)& it looks filthy already.That's the trouble with a respray, I now want to wrap it up in cotton wool.

[Burge55s3]

Heres are couple more pics just to show how bad the paintwork had become.To be honest it still looked great.........from a distance.

[v8s4me]

If you're having your wheels diamond cut and lacquered my top-tip would be to ease out the center hole so the the centre cap is a very easy push-in/push-out fit. That way you run less risk of cracking your nice new lacquer and letting the water back in to start the corrosion process all over again. I did a post on this back in 2010 but there's probably no chance f finding it now.

Welcome to the Forum